Release white paper on civilian/Army clash in Niger State

December 30, 2016

As the Judicial commission of inquiry set up by the Niger State Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the immediate causes of the bloody clash between the military and some communities in Bosso local government area of the state rounded up its sitting in Minna.

Therefore the senator representing Niger East senatorial district, Barrister David Umoru has urged the state government to ensure timely release of the reports of the commission.Senator Umoru who was reacting to the delay in the release of the reports of the commission in Minna also appealed to the government to ensure that the government white paper on the unfortunate incidence is released without delay.“I was made to understand that the commission of inquiry has concluded its public sitting over four weeks ago and that is why am urging both the commission and the government to ensure that report, and the government white are released as soon as possible.“The people affected are eagerly waiting for the outcome of the commission of inquiry because they had their houses destroyed, some of their properties destroyed so they want to know the government position and that is why am calling on the state government to expedite action on the issue so that the people can know their faith”.The 7 member commission of inquiry which was inaugurated in August 18th by the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has Justice Mohammed Mohammed as its chairman and was given two months within which to submit its findings to the government.However, the commission during its sitting received no fewer than 29 key witnesses who testified before it, while about 10 memoranda were presented by different stakeholders in crisis to the commission.The memoranda were received from , the Nigeria Army, the Nigeria police, the Nigeria Air force, the Department of the state security, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, the Nigeria Bar Association and the affected communities.It could be recalled that in August 4th this year, soldiers from the 31 Field Artillery Brigade Minna invaded some communities namely Kpaidna, Kopa, Legbe and Dagba all in Bosso local government area of the state in what they (soldiers) “cordon and search operation” following reports that the villagers were stockpiling arms with the intention of causing crisis.At the end of the operation which lasted for several hours, 11 soldiers and 10 civilians were killed while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.